The Balancing Barn, located in England is designed by Dutch architecture firm MRDV and Mole Architects. Be careful not to stack too much furniture on that side of the house. Or, avoid jumping around during parties.
Almost 50% of this structure is hanging in free space.
Tag Archives: design
Health Dept. Building
Designed by Coll-Barreu Arquitectos, the Basque Health Department building is something to look at. Although I imagine, mental health being an issue here.
The striking façade is a shell of glass placed at irregular angles. The folds generate multiple reflections visible from the inside, changing its appearance depending on the point of view, the hour, and the season. The façade is also an energy efficient double skin that insulates heat, reduces noise, and lets in precious natural light.
The 99,000 sq ft (9,200 sq m) space is divided in seven floors for offices, two levels for institutional and representative uses, meeting rooms in the tower, an auditorium with 150 seats in the basement, and 3 underground levels for parking.
For more go to: COLL-BARREU ARQUITECTOS
A-Cero Architects II
About two months ago I posted a house Joaquin Torres and Rafael Llamazares designed near Madrid.
They’re at it again with this place in Pozuelo de Alarcon, a suburb of Madrid.
Description of the Dwelling in Pozuelo de Alarcón by A-cero Architects
A-cero architecture studio is presenting a house that A-cero recently finished in “La Finca” estate in the town Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid).
This project is smaller (1000m2) than the rest buildings of this housing development. Its smaller dimensions turn it into a comfortable and practical house that invites to enjoy it and offers the maximum life quality. Its modern design based on impossible angles, projecting and spectacular volumes do of this building one of the maximum exponents of the A-cero architecture. The façade of the house is made of travertine marble which is combined with dark grey granite in several areas, as in the vertical plane of the main façade. White has the main role in the building (in interiors and exteriors). Furthermore, it has numerous ample windows. Both elements give to the house a lot of light and vitality. The house plot has a rectangular shape and a surface of 4.500 m ². It has a direct access from a private road located in the north. In the south area is a wide garden which is joined with the urban development green spaces. It is a two storey building (ground floor and basement). Both levels are perfectly adapted to plot slope where the house takes place.
In the main entrance is a hall which communicates with an ample wide lounge and a dining room. Both stays overturn towards the back façade. They have plenty ample windows that are opened for a porch where other lounge and dining room are. In this exterior area is a barbecue and a spectacular bar designed by A-cero besides a exterior swimming pool (with jacuzzi). In this level also is the kitchen, cleaning room and service area (it includes a living room, two bedrooms and two baths) with an independent exterior access. In the opposite side of this level is located the principal bedroom. It is decorated in white and golden colours and has a large window. This room includes a dressing-room and a huge bathroom. By an interior stairs you can go down to the basement where three bedrooms are with their bathrooms and a games room. Furthermore, in this level is a gym, a cinema rooms, wine vault, the facilities quarters and the garage. House furniture has been designed by A-cero with top quality materials and finishes.
It is a clear sculptural inspiration work in which A-cero has looked for combining its architecture concept with the essential functionality thar every houses need.
For more pictures of the exterior, interior, and even blueprints on this house, visit the A-cero website – here.
Briefcase Bicycle
Now you can conveniently slide your briefcase into your bicycle’s frame on your ride to work. This is still not going to make me ride a bike but cool concept anyway.
It’s called BIKOFF, and designed by Marcos Madia from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Space Hotel
A trip to space is still big on the list of the uber-rich, and the latest news from the space tourism industry is the announcement of the world’s first commercial space station by two Russian aerospace companies – Orbital Technologies and Rocket and Space Corporation Energia (RSC Energia). They say that private citizens, professional crews and corporate researchers could use the station. The Commercial Space Station (CSS) is to be built with space-certified elements, modules and technologies of the highest standards. The station will have a crew capability of up to seven people. Orbital Technologies chief executive Sergey Kostenko said…
Once launched and operational, the CSS will provide a unique destination for commercial, state and private spaceflight exploration missions. We look forward to working with corporate entities, state governments and private individuals from around the world.
The estimated cost hasn’t been revealed, but the Commercial Space Station is expected to launch by 2016. The announcement has come as a straight competition for Las Vegas-based Bigelow Aerospace as they plan to have a commercial space station ready by 2015.
For more info on the Space Hotel and more check out – RSC Energia and Orbital Technologies
iWatch 3! Samsung Proxima
Actually, while it looks like iPod nano posts i did last week. This is actually another of those prototype watch/phones that have been popping up recently.
Here is one by Samsung, the Proxima. Not really my cup of tea, but the 80s kid in me can’t help think its cool to hold up your hand and talk into ur wrist 
Psi Tower
British Hong Kong based designer Michael Young has been commissioned to develop building project strategies for Wanchai Cultural District. The first concept PSi Tower has been developed as an office complex with luxury apartments for business users and executives overlooking Kowloon district. Conceptually the project, based visually on the essence of ancient Chinese building techniques, has been carried forward into the 21st Century with its multi facetted surfaces that change according to weather and light conditions.
For more on Michael Young, please visit his site @ michael-young.com
Full Circle Bicycle
Full Circle is a sleek folding bike that dispenses with the traditional chain, and instead uses a free wheel gear. And it is simple!
Designed by designer Sanghyun Jeong and Jun-Tae Park from korea.
“‘full circle’ is a compact-sized city bike that has a large wheel size (508mm, 20”) like a sprinter minivelo. this specification makes this bike easy to navigate through a big city like seoul, while most compact bikes that have small wheels have difficulty. in short, this is a small bike with big wheels. ‘full circle’ does not have chains, but free wheel gear directly connected to its pedals. it just looks like a fixed gear, but it isn’t. ‘full circle’ has a very simple folding structure, so the ride can easily and quickly fold and unfold the body in a busy downtown, even on the subway. most of its parts can be folded, including the saddle and handle bars”
via likecool.com
Digital Smart Finger
Not available in stores (yet), but this device would definitely help the ‘not-so-handy’ men like myself around the house. Cool concept.
Smart Fingers turn your hands into ruler. It uses two fingers, the pair of plastic tubes slip over your real fingers and measure the distance between themselves. The distance is displayed on the side of one of the fingers, you can store it in memory for transfer to a PC.
Designed by Choi Hyong-Suk, Jung Ji-hye, and Yoo-Jin Park. Currently it is just a concept.
Aquariums X Crazy Ideas
Came across these over at DwellersWithoutDecorators.com…
Check out these funky looking aquariums, some of them I wouldn’t mind having in my home, but others??…hmm.
More pics over at DwellersWithoutDecorators.com
